South Kalimantan Forestry Service Maintains 280 Hectares of Community Forest to Strengthen FOLU Net Sink 2030
Banjarbaru – South Kalimantan’s Provincial Forestry Service is maintaining approximately 280 hectares of community forest through four forest management units (KPH) to strengthen the regional contribution towards the forestry sector’s emissions control targets under the FOLU Net Sink 2030 programme.
The Head of the Forest and Land Rehabilitation Section (RHL) of the South Kalimantan Forestry Service, Engkos Koswara, said in Banjarbaru on Friday that the maintenance activities are being carried out with financial support from the RBC2 FOLU Net Sink 2030 second phase programme, involving six forest farmer groups (KTH) across six KPH units.
“The maintenance of community forest covering approximately 280 hectares is spread across the working areas of four KPH units in South Kalimantan, which serve as the spearhead for forest area management at the ground level,” he said.
Through the KPH, Engkos explained that the regional government provides guidance to forest farmer groups whilst ensuring rehabilitation activities proceed according to the forest management plan in each area.
“Plant maintenance includes weeding activities which have already been completed, whilst mulching operations are still in progress at several forest farmer groups,” he said.
Beyond these activities, the South Kalimantan Forestry Service has also completed planting and maintenance of vegetation along both sides of roads funded through the Regional Budget (APBD).
He mentioned that the vegetation planting was carried out from Marker 17 on Governor Syarkawi Road in Banjar Regency towards Barito Kuala Regency, through to the Margasari section towards Kandangan in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, covering approximately 50 kilometres of planting routes.
The South Kalimantan Forestry Service is also conducting replanting in the Cuka River area, particularly at several points along the coastal shoreline affected by tidal fluctuations.
“In that area, replanting is planned using bintaro seedlings to replace vegetation damaged by wave action, so that the protective function of the coastal area remains intact,” Engkos said.
In the future, the South Kalimantan Forestry Service is also preparing a series of continuing RHL activities, including community forest development in Pauh, Kabang, and Hawang villages in Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency, construction of a mangrove arboretum and mangrove rehabilitation on Laut Island, as well as agroforestry development in Lano Village, Tabalong Regency.